Graphene Institute signs commercialisation deal with manufacturer
THE National Graphene Institute (NGI) has signed a collaborative agreement with a UK graphene company to accelerate the commercialisation of applications.
Haydale Graphene Industries, based in South Wales, already works closely with the NGI and has agreed a formal partnership which aims to leverage each party’s expertise to develop and commercialise graphene products and applications.
Haydale has developed a patented scalable plasma process to functionalise graphene and other nanomaterials.The NGI will use Haydale’s patented process incorporated in its R&D plasma reactor for research into the functionalisation of graphene and other nanomaterials, led by Professor Ian Kinloch and Professor Robert Young. This will look into the use, process and identification of nanomaterials to enhance performance in composites, sensors, printable inks, super capacitators, rubbers and elastomers.
The organisations plan to work together to create opportunities and funding in the aerospace and automotive markets – co-operation has already seen the development of components for a Unmanned Aerial Vehicle (UAV) demonstrator with plans for its flight due to take place later this year.
The NGI will also use material and prototype applications developed by Haydale, as well as other UK graphene producers and innovators.
James Baker, University of Manchester graphene business director, said: “Haydale is one of a number of excellent UK graphene companies, producing quality materials and engineering them into real-life applications.
“This partnership is an example of how we are working closely with the supply chain including SMEs to ensure that graphene commercialisation stays in the UK and that the graphene community works closely together to find applications for this remarkable material.”
Ray Gibbs, chief executive of Haydale, added: “This collaboration is a further step in our aim at making the UK the centre of excellence for Graphene by retaining UK knowledge on graphene as we work towards commercialisation.”
The NGI has 50 collaborative partners, working alongside more than 230 graphene and 2D materials researchers at The University of Manchester.
